The relationship between physical performance data and nutritional status of adult professional football players

It is thought that the methods used for competition/training analysis in football can help optimize training and test procedures and develop individualized exercise and nutrition strategies by providing a perspective on the mechanics and energy of football. This study has been conducted to determine the possible distinguishing performance criteria of athletes related to nutrition and to examine how the performance outputs change with nutritional differences. This study was completed with 18 professional football player (between the ages of 18-35 and without any chronic diseases, disabilities or sports injuries) who is a playing at a football club in Turkish Football Federation 1th League. A face-to-face questionnaire was applied by the researcher to determine the characteristics and dietary habits of the football players. The body composition analyzes of the football players (height, weight, body fat percentage, lean body mass) were made by the researcher at the beginning of the study and recorded in the questionnaire. The performance outputs of the players were recorded with a high-sensitivity GPS-based wearable tracking system in three consecutive days (two training and one competition day) during the winter-season camp period. Dietary intake of the players were determined for 3 days in which performance outputs were followed by using 24-hour dietary recall method. Performance data of each players obtained from GPS were evaluated by licensed athletic performance specialist and researcher. As a result, a significant positive correlation was found between lean body mass, total energy intake, energy availability, water consumption, amount of carbohydrate in diet and high metabolic power percentages, distances covered in high metabolic power in football players (p<0.05). The average metabolic power, total distance, average speed, percentage of high metabolic power and distance covered in high metabolic power were significantly higher in football players with adequate carbohydrate intake than players with inadequate intake (p<0.05). It was determined that the average metabolic power, total distance, average speed, percentage of high metabolic power and distance covered in high metabolic power were significantly higher in football players with adequate carbohydrate intake than players with inadequate intake; while perceived exertion, body fat percentage and low metabolic power percentage were significantly lower (p<0.05). Similarly, the performance outputs of the players with sufficient energy availability and hydration status were found better than players with insufficient (p<0.05). This study can give an idea about how the nutritional status is reflected in the performance output, which is the primary goal in all sports. Nutritional goals and requirements of the athletes should not be static and should be periodized daily, monthly and annually according to the training or competition. Periodized and individualized nutrition recommendations and actions to be taken can contribute positively to the health and performance of the athletes.